Cooperation with Civil Society Institutions

The philosophy of establishing national human rights institutions in accordance with the "Paris Principles", issued pursuant to UN General Assembly Resolution No. (48/134) of 1993, is based on their role as a link between the government — as the head of the executive apparatus of the state, primarily responsible for implementing laws and for promoting and protecting human rights within the national framework — and civil society institutions as independent national non-governmental entities expressing the common needs of groups of individuals on legitimate grounds. This necessitates that national institutions serve as a bridge between the needs relating to the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the official bodies responsible for implementing those rights and freedoms.

Article (12) of the Institution's Establishment Law No. (26) of 2014, as amended by Decree-Law No. (20) of 2016, stipulates a number of the Institution's competencies, including cooperation with national bodies and regional and international organizations and relevant institutions concerned with the promotion and protection of human rights, in addition to holding joint meetings and events, as well as cooperation, coordination, and consultation with related civil society institutions, non-governmental organizations, various other groups, and human rights defenders.

The bylaws contained in the establishment decisions of civil society institutions, each separately, also stipulate the objectives for which these associations were established and the means related to their implementation, in alignment with Resolution No. (4) of 2007 concerning the Model Bylaw for Social and Cultural Associations and Clubs under the supervision of the Ministry of Social Development. Common objectives were identified, consisting of the importance of civil society institutions' participation in everything that contributes to Bahrain's development in the field of human rights; activating cooperation with governmental and non-governmental bodies and institutions; coordinating with internal and external organizations and relevant parties for the protection of human rights; strengthening solidarity bonds; spreading awareness and education on respect for human rights values; monitoring any human rights violations; contributing to the preparation of cadres in various human rights fields to monitor the human situation and its diverse issues, through organizing seminars, lectures, exhibitions, audiovisual presentations, and publishing printed materials and periodicals on human rights; cooperating and coordinating with associations concerned with human rights; and organizing workshops and specialized courses on the principles and values of citizenship and human rights.

When activating collaborative work, it is important not to overlook the significance of the independence of all parties — whether the National Institution for Human Rights on one hand, or the civil society institutions working in the field of human rights on the other — which were established through separate mechanisms and decisions, and have independent legal personalities enabling them to achieve their objectives through the means agreed upon in their internal regulations.

The idea of establishing the Consultative Working Team arose from the importance of the National Institution providing support to activate the objectives for which civil society institutions were established, and from the outcomes of the consultative meetings and forums held by the Institution over the past two years, which aimed to strengthen cooperation frameworks among all parties, identify needs, work to overcome challenges facing community work, and coordinate national efforts in the field of human rights, without compromising the neutrality and independence of all parties.

Each party has the freedom to implement what it deems appropriate from what has been agreed upon by the team, with reasons stated in case of non-implementation.

As part of enhancing communication with civil society institutions, the National Institution for Human Rights held a number of consultative meetings with representatives of civil society institutions during November and December 2023, namely:

• Bahrain Human Rights Watch Society.
• Bahrain Human Rights Society.
• Al-Marsad Human Rights Society.
• President of the Bahrain Transparency Society.
• President of the Bahraini Jurists Society.
• President of Mabadi Human Rights Society.
• President of Together for Human Rights Society.
• President of the Manama Center for Human Rights.
• President of the Bahraini Public Relations Society.
• Bahrain Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Society.
• Bahraini Autism Society.
• Al-Sadaqa Society for the Blind.
• Bahraini Deaf Society.
• Bahraini Motivators Society for Persons with Disabilities.
• Bahrain Center for International Mobility.
• President of the Bahraini Medical Society.
• President of the Bahraini Lawyers Society.
• President of the Bahraini Journalists Society.
• Chairwoman of the Bahraini Women's Union.
• General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions.
• Free Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions.

As a culmination of these consultative meetings, and based on the views and proposals put forward by the representatives of civil society institutions, the importance of transitioning from a consultation framework to organized institutional work emerged, through the establishment of a joint consultative working team between the National Institution for Human Rights and civil society institutions working in the field of human rights, in a manner that enhances coordination and complementarity, and ensures the sustainability of cooperation and partnership in supporting and promoting human rights.

Press News:

• The National Institution for Human Rights holds a consultative meeting with a number of representatives of civil society institutions.
• The National Institution for Human Rights holds a consultative meeting with a number of representatives of civil society institutions.
• The National Institution for Human Rights holds consultative meetings with a number of representatives of civil society institutions.
• The National Institution for Human Rights and the Bahraini Journalists Society discuss enhancing joint cooperation.
• The National Institution for Human Rights holds a consultative meeting with the Bahraini Women's Union.
• The National Institution for Human Rights holds a consultative meeting with the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions.
• The National Institution for Human Rights holds a consultative meeting with a number of associations concerned with persons with disabilities.
• The National Institution for Human Rights holds a consultative meeting with the Free Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions.
• The National Institution for Human Rights and the Bahraini Lawyers Society discuss enhancing joint cooperation.

Its membership includes the following civil society institutions working in the field of human rights:

• Mabadi Human Rights Society.
• Bahrain Human Rights Society.
• Bahrain Transparency Society.
• Bahrain Human Rights Watch Society.
• Manama Center for Human Rights.
• Bahraini Al-Marsad Society for Human Rights Monitoring.
• Bahraini Jurists Society.
• Together for Human Rights Society.

Press News:

• The Consultative Working Team holds its first meeting.
• The Consultative Working Team holds its second meeting.
• The Consultative Working Team holds its third meeting.
• The Consultative Working Team holds its fourth meeting.
• The Consultative Working Team holds its fifth meeting.
• The Consultative Working Team holds its sixth meeting.